Wild goalies Harding, Backstrom healthy

Minnesota Wild goaltenders Josh Harding and Niklas Backstrom are healthy and will be ready for training camp, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Harding played his last game on Dec. 31 because of complications related to multiple sclerosis. Backstrom’s last game was Jan. 30 due to an abdominal injury. He had surgery on March 25.

General manager Chuck Fletcher told the Star Tribune that the goalies are ready for action.

“Everything’s a go with both goalies,” he said Thursday. “Everybody seems to be feeling pretty good, and at this stage, knock on wood, all of our players who were banged up at the end of the season (are) feeling better. Josh has felt good. Right now we’re not expecting any issues for anybody with respect to passing training-camp medicals.”

Harding went 18-7-3 with a 1.65 goals-against average and .933 save percentage before his season ended.

Backstrom was 5-11-2 with a 3.02 goals-against average and .899 save percentage in 21 games last season.

“Injuries can happen to anybody, and certainly you can’t predict things, but guys are healthy, and typically when Backstrom and Harding are healthy, they play well,” Fletcher said. “If something happens, like any player at any position, we’ll react. There’s always a way to react if you need to, but at this point, we’re comfortable with our situation.”

Darcy Kuemper, who filled in last season, is unsigned and is a restricted free agent. He went 12-8-4 with a 2.43 goals-against average and .915 save percentage in 26 games.